Samoa is made up of eleven itūmālō (political districts). These are the traditional eleven districts that were established well before European arrival. Each district has its own constitutional foundation (faavae) based on the traditional order of title precedence found in each district's faalupega (traditional salutations).
14-499: Tuamāsaga is a district of Samoa , with a population (2016 census) of 95,907. This makes it the most populous district in Samoa. The geographic area of Tuamasaga covers the central part of Upolu island, and includes the capital, Apia . The paramount matai title of Tuamasaga is the Malietoa title. Led by Auimatagi, Sa Malietoa and the nine senior orators of Malie are responsible for
28-658: A common administration, the local power rests with the constituent villages. Samoa Observer The Samoa Observer is the largest newspaper group in Samoa published in both English and Samoan . The Samoa Observer is published Monday to Friday, the Weekend Observer on Saturdays and the Sunday Samoan on Sundays with all editions available online. Coverage includes local and international news, editorial opinion, sports and investigative journalism. The Samoa Observer
42-647: Is currently no holder of the Tui A'ana title as the orator polity of Leulumoega is yet to decide. In Tuamasaga , the paramount matai title of Malietoa is conferred by the Sa Malietoa of Malie. The pāpā titles of Gatoaitele and Vaetamasoalii are known as pāpā fafine, owing to their roots with the original female occupants. Both titles are conferred by the Fale Tuamasaga based in Afega and Safata respectively. The current holder of
56-713: Is the Tui Atua. The orator group which confers this title is the Faleono (House of Six) senior orators of Lufilufi.The two paramount matai - called tama-a-'āiga - are Tupua Tamasese, which is conferred by the Aiga Sa Fenunu'ivao (Descendants of Fenunu'ivao, mother of Tupua Fuiavailili) of Falefa and Salani; and Matā'afa, conferred by the Aiga Sa Levālasi (Descendants of Levālasi, mother of Salamāsina) of Lotofaga and Āmaile. Samoa's first Prime Minister, Fiame Matā'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II
70-462: Is the seat of Gatoaitele. Once a decision is made, the village of Afega, through the chiefs Fata and Maulolo, must lead the bestowal process on behalf of the Fale Tuamasaga (the parliament of Tuamasaga). Safata is the seat of the Vaetamasoalii pāpā . These pāpā titles are usually bestowed upon the highest matai of Tuamasaga and one of the four Tama-a-Aiga (noble families) of Samoa. Historically,
84-545: Is the seat of the Malietoa. At a national level, the Malietoa title is one of the four Tama-a-Aiga (noble families) titles. Apia , the nation's capital, is situated in the north of the district. The national parliament also sits at Mulinuʻu to the west of Apia, and the main seaport is situated at Matautu to the north of Apia around the shores of Apia harbour. Afega, Safata and the pāpā titles The paramount pāpā titles of Tuamasaga are Gatoaitele and Vaetamasoalii. Afega
98-534: The Fale Tuamasaga meets at Afega ( malae a Vaitoelau ) in times of war and at Malie ( malae a filemu ) in times of peace. Together with the faleiva of Leulumoega and the faleono of Lufilufi , the lead orators of Malie & Afega (collectively called 'Tuisamau ma Auimatagi') comprise the group of tulafale alii (orator chiefs) who speak on behalf of Upolu on matters of state, the Tumua. Archaeology in Samoa has uncovered earth mounds and archaeological remains at
112-501: The Malietoa title is Malietoa Moli, son of former Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II . The current Gatoaitele holder is Savea Sano Malifa , owner of the Samoa Observer newspaper. There is no current holder of the Vaetamasoalii pāpā title. Atua has its capital at Lufilufi , a former part of Falefa that was designated as its own village following the events that gave it its name. The paramount pāpā title and sovereign of Atua
126-457: The affairs of the district and confers each districts' paramount title, amongst other responsibilities. Aʻana has its capital at Leulumoega . The paramount title of A'ana is the Tui A'ana. The orator group which confers this title – the Faleiva (House of Nine) – is based at Leulumoega. The paramount tama-a-'āiga title of A'ana is Tuimalealiifano of Falelatai. There
140-509: The election of the Malietoa titleholder at Niuʻula in Malie. Given that the district of Aiga-i-le-Tai ( Manono and Apolima ) and the district of Faʻasaleleaga on Savaiʻi are two key footholds of the Aiga Sa Malietoa (Malietoa clan), Malie often consults with Manono (capital of Aiga-i-le-Tai) and Safotulafai (capital of Faʻasaleleaga) in the election of the Malietoa. The village of Malie
154-714: The traditional sub-districts of the Itūmālō . For example, the faipule districts of Anoama'a West and Anoama'a East are based on the traditional sub-district of Anoama'a in the northern half of the Atua district. At the local level, there are 265 villages. Additionally, there are 71 villages in Tuamasaga district the capital Apia is composed of (58 villages in Vaimauga West and 13 in Faleata East electoral districts). Apia does not have
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#1732855676746168-427: The village of Vailele in the sub-district of Vaimauga, on the central north coast to the east of Apia. 13°55′S 171°48′W / 13.917°S 171.800°W / -13.917; -171.800 This article about a geographical location in Samoa is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Districts of Samoa The capital village of each district administers and coordinates
182-625: Was a holder of the Matā'afa title. The current holder of the Tupua Tamasese and Tui Atua titles is former Prime Minister and Head of State Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi . Note that several districts include multiple exclaves : The itūmālō are further subdivided in 51 faipule districts. They have no administrative function, but serve as single-member electoral constituencies. The faipule districts are also used as regional units for statistics . The faipule electoral districts are based loosely on
196-582: Was founded in 1978 by Editor in Chief, Savea Sano Malifa , a poet and leading Pacific journalist who was awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Astor Award for press freedom in 1998. The independent paper has received other awards for investigative journalism and press freedom. It has faced lawsuits from government officials and business leaders following the publication of stories about corruption and abuse of public office in Samoa. The main offices are located in Apia ,
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